Hundreds gather in the Hague to remember 1945 accidental bombing

Around 350 people gathered Sunday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the mistaken bombing of Bezuidenhout on March 3, 1945. The ceremony began with a service at the Christus Triumfatorkerk, followed by a wreath-laying at a monument that survived the attack.

The bombing occurred when British bombers, targeting German V2 rocket launch sites in the Haagse Bos, mistakenly dropped their payload on the densely populated Bezuidenhout district. The pilots had been given incorrect map coordinates. At least 532 people were killed, though the actual toll may have been higher due to undocumented casualties among those in hiding.

Frank Kuipers, chairman of Stichting 3 maart '45, noted that this year's memorial saw significantly more attendees than in previous years, when around 225 people participated. Survivors and their grandchildren laid 15 wreaths—more than in past years. According to Kuipers, this increased participation helps keep the memory of the tragedy alive.

“The bombing is a scar that has never fully healed,” Kuipers said. “But more and more people are starting to ask what really happened. It is one of many bombings that have faded into obscurity, but there is a growing awareness.”

The Hague Mayor Jan van Zanen addressed the attendees, emphasizing that, while the event happened “a lifetime ago,” the grief remains palpable for survivors and their families. He also drew connections to current global conflicts.

“The alarming geopolitical situation today gives this commemoration a bitter undertone,” Van Zanen said. “The images of destruction in places like the Middle East and Ukraine remind us that war is not a thing of the past. This is why The Hague, as an international city of peace and justice, must continue to work for global security.”

Kuipers welcomed the mayor’s remarks, saying, “I am glad he placed the horrors of the past in today’s context. In the turbulent world we live in now, understanding the devastation of war is more important than ever.”